NHRC notice to Odisha government over hospital fire

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the government of Odisha over the fire that broke out on Monday night at SUM Hospital in Bhubaneswar where 21 people were killed.

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The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the government of Odisha over the fire that broke out on Monday night at SUM Hospital in Bhubaneswar where 21 people were killed.

“The Commission has observed that callous attitude and lapses of the authorities, if any, amount to violation of right to life of the patients. It has expressed shock how the State authorities allowed such a large number of hospitals to function without proper fire safety clearance,” the NHRC notice says.

The NHRC, in its notice, has taken cognisance of the TIMES NOW exclusive reports that revealed how the hospital was given three warnings – one in 2013, one in 2014, and one in 2015 – regarding lapses in the fire safety norms, but the hospital chose to ignore those warnings.

“The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that due to suspected short circuit, a major fire broke out in the SUM Hospital and Medical College in Bhubaneswar, Odisha on the 17th October, 2016. Reportedly, the hospital in question was warned as early as in 2013 for not keeping the safety measures but the hospital authorities ignored it. In Odisha, out of 568 hospitals, only 3 have clearance of the department of fire safety,” states the notice.

The NHRC has now called for a report in the matter within six weeks detailing the relief and rehabilitation granted to the families of deceased and the injured.

“It (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Government of Odisha through its Chief Secretary calling for a report in the matter within six weeks including the relief and rehabilitation granted to the next of Kin of the deceased and the injured. He has also been asked to inform about the steps/ precautions taken or proposed to be taken by the State Government to prevent recurrence of such mishaps,” the notice added.

21 patients admitted in SUM Hospital in Odisha, lost their lives in a fire which broke out in the intensive care unit and dialysis wing of the hospital on Monday night.The fire was triggered by an electric short circuit in the dialysis ward on the first floor which spread to the nearby ICU. Four people, including the hospital’s medical superintendent, the fire safety officer and two others were arrested by the police.

NHRC notice to Odisha government over hospital fireDescription:The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the government of Odisha over the fire that broke out on Monday night at SUM Hospital in Bhubaneswar where 21 people were killed.Times Now